Interview: Harriet Paintin on Volunteering in Lesbos

Hatty interviews Harriet Paintin about her experience volunteering in Lesbos and Istanbul, working with refugees. She gives an essential insight into what it’s like on Lesbos for the refugees, as well as describing the awful press behaviour, the smugglers, and the broader political situation.

Jump to Topic:0:00 Introduction & Lesbos1:28 Lack of aid3:13 Refugees5:56 The boat landings & the awful press9:00 The camps20:19 Where is the international support?23:05 Do the refugees know what awaits them?24:32 The smugglers28:02 Turkish state complicity & EU31:06 Why can’t refugees stay in Turkey?33:45 Syrians & more refugee discussion39:20 Syria40:03 ISIS & Kurds41:36 Organised Crime43:15 The exciting potential of refugees46:46 Can they return home one day?48:18 There is no infrastructure to go back49:06 Any solution?51:56 Harriet back to Istanbul

(Apologies, there is a technical issue where Hatty’s lav mic stopped working between 40 minutes and 45 minutes. Her questions and comments are still audible, just quieter than usual.)

For more of Harriet, visit the website Brush & Bow, which explores individual stories within wider social issues through art and music.